Sometimes I'm glad I don't work at the National Library of Medicine. They're supposed to be the library of record for medical books, but what is a medical book? One of my neighbors has a new book out - Raising a Child with Albinism: A Guide to the Early Years by Susan Leslie DuBois (Editor). Is this a medical book? Probably. NLM doesn't have a copy yet though.
3 comments:
Having spent some time at NLM, I may be able to shed some light on why your neighbors' book might not be in NLM's collection. According to NLM's collection development policy as related to consumer health materials(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/acquisitions/cdm/formats12.html), NLM "selectively" collects materials written specifically for consumers. Ultimately, the Library of Congress "assumes principal responsibility for the collection, cataloging and archiving of consumer health publications for the nation."
LOC's record for Raising a Child with Albinism: http://lccn.loc.gov/2008928496
Kate
It's a great book - I know several parents that are already thrilled with it.
Kate, thanks for the tip. I usually deal with the history of medicine collection which is pre-1917. I'm fairly sure I don't agree with the distinction you mention, that was probably made at some point due to copyright deposit, as it leaves too many holes by assuming the other guy's doing the collecting.
Heather, thanks for the perspective.
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